Page 101 of Ties That Bind Us

“I want to be here when he wakes up.” I wasn’t sure how Gio could even stand me right now.

“I know. But you need to take care of yourself too. And besides, it’s a short walk.” He put his hand on my shoulder gently. “Care to join me?”

I hesitated but eventually gave in. Maybe a little fresh air could do me some good. I’d go for one cup of coffee and then come back.

Gio matched me step for step as we walked, comfortable in the silence for a few minutes before he finally spoke. “I know a lot has happened in the last few days. How are you doing with everything?”

“I’m fine.” I mustered up as much of a smile as I could. I didn’t really want to talk but I didn’t want to be rude either.

“You know it’s okay if you’re not.”

I hesitated. “I just feel kind of numb, I guess. I don’t know what to feel.”

“You know, when you and Nick got married, you became one of my children. I am always here if you need to talk.” Gio’s support of me was almost more than I could bear. I didn’t deserve it, especially when I was the reason his son was lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life.

I could feel tears pooling in my eyes again. We walked a little longer before I could bring myself to speak. “Nick and I had a fight.”

Gio didn’t respond, just nodded knowingly, and let me continue.

“I should never have left his apartment that night. Our apartment. I should have just stayed there and fixed things with him instead of—” I shook my head, biting my lip. We had stopped at the end of the hallway and were staring out the window now. It was raining, and every once in a while a strike of lightning would light up the dark sky.

“Ava, this is not your fault, and please don’t think it is for another second. Your father made some terrible mistakes, and that is the only reason that this happened. You had a fight with your husband, you’re allowed to go blow off some steam. I know as well as anyone Nick can be stubborn. You fighting and leaving the house had nothing to do with Nick getting shot.”

“Even if that’s true, my dad orchestrated all of this. I feel like I should have seen this coming, you know? I practically led him right to you guys.”

“Ava, I fell right for your father’s act, does that make me responsible for this too?” he countered.

I shook my head, not wanting to meet his eyes.

“You need to let yourself off the hook for this. You are not responsible for the choices he made and you certainly aren’t responsible for believing in him. We like to believe that people are good, especially when it’s our own family, and sometimes that’s just not the case.”

Gio put his arm around my shoulder to comfort me, but it only made me cry harder. Why couldn’t my own father have been like this? Gio had become more of a father figure to me in the few months I had known him than my dad had been my entire life.

“What’s going to happen to him now?” I asked, sucking in a sharp breath. There was no way anyone was going to let my dad get away with this, and if I was being honest, that made me happy. The thought that he’d have to pay, and maybe even die, for all the hell he’d put me through brought me an overwhelming sense of relief. What kind of person did that make me?

“Your father will get exactly what’s coming to him, Ava, I can promise you that. Not only did he violate all kinds of statutes and agreements we have in place, he hurt you, and to me, that’s an offense I just can’t look the other way on. You’re part of my family now, and I know Nick will say the same thing. What your father did is inexcusable, and once Nick wakes up, we’ll come up with a plan and we’ll go after him.”

“I’m not upset about that at all. He’s my father, and you’re telling me that you’re going to kill him. What kind of person does that make me?” I let out a sharp laugh, completely ashamed of myself. There had to be something wrong with me.

“Ava, there is nothing wrong with how you’re feeling. He hurt you in unimaginable ways, and it’s perfectly normal to feel a sense of relief that he won’t ever be able to do that again. I’ve known your father for a long time, and never agreed with the way he treated your mother and his children. I don’t ever want you to feel like what he did was normal, that’s not what a father is supposed to do and I am so sorry that you had to go through that.”

“Thank you, Gio. I’ll try to remember that.” A few errant tears trickled down my cheek. “Nick is so lucky to have you.”

“You have me, too, Ava.” He smiled and pulled me into a tight hug. “That’s what family is for. And do you know what else? Nick is very lucky to have you too. He adores you, and would do anything under the sun to see you smile. It’s okay to let yourself be loved that way.”

I smiled sheepishly as Gio and I headed back to Nick’s room with our coffee. Gio had been incredibly sweet, and after talking with him, I felt a little better about everything. He had the same calming and reassuring personality as Nick. Leo had gotten back from our apartment, and he followed us to Nick’s room.

When we got to the room, I opened the door and nearly fainted when I saw Nick sitting up in the bed, talking with the doctor.

“Nick!” I shrieked, rushing to him. I threw my arms around his neck, holding on as if my life depended on. Happy tears streamed down my cheeks. Was he really awake?

“Whoa, easy there.” He chuckled sleepily. “I was shot, you know.”

He took me in his arms and pulled me into his chest, kissing the top of my head. I was so overcome with emotion I couldn’t speak. I had been planning for hours what I wanted to say to him, but right now, words completely failed me.

“It’s so good to see you,” Nick whispered, his lips grazing my ear. “I didn’t know if I ever would again.”

“How are you feeling, buddy?” Gio walked over to Nick, relief on his face.

---